Practice putting device



Jan. 23, 1968 H. w. SCHOLIN ETAL 3, 5

PRACTICE PUTTING DEVICE I Filed March 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 6

laf lNl/E/VTORS.

HAROLD M. .SCHOL/IV HOLGEI? E. PEDERSEW ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 23, 1968 H.W.SCHOLIN ETAL 3,355,199

PRACTICE PUTTING DEVICE Filed March 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HOLGER E.PEDERSEN WRwMwi/V .44.

' ATTORA/fYS United States Patent 3,3653% PRACTICE PUTTZNG DEVHQE HaroldW. Scholin, 1125 N. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, iii. 6%68, and HolgerE. Pedersen, Qhicago, EiL; said Pedersen assignor to said Scholin FiledMar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,422 It) Qlaims. (Cl. 273179) ABSTRACT THEDHSCLOSURE A practice putting device includes a housing with a ballreturning target swingably mounted at the front. When a putted ballstrikes the target, the target moves inwardly to close a switch, and asolenoid is energized. The solenoid armature is moved from a positionspaced from the target against the target to drive the target outwardlyagainst the ball to return the ball. A suction cup is compressed betweenthe target and the housing when the target is driven outwardly. Thesuction cup temporarily holds the target, and then releases the targetso that it returns gradually to its instant position without reboundingand energizing the switch. A time delay takes place between the time aball strikes the target and the time the target is driven outwardly, anda ball putted too fast rebounds out of range of the target and is notreturned. A curved back rail is spaced from the rear of the housing toreturn balls missing the housing, and the device can be positionedtoward the rear of an opening in a horizontal mat so that all ballsentering the hole are returned.

The present invention relates to a practice putting device forpracticing putting a golf ball.

Many types of practice putting devices have been developed in the pastand are intended to simulate putting conditions existing on golf greens.Such devices are commonly used on fioors, carpets and the like, andadditionally, synthetic putting mats have been developed for laying overa fioor surface.

One type of practice putting device used in the past includes a housingcarrying a target plate on one side and at which the outted ball isaimed. Furthermore, the device may include an ejector mechanism orreturning balls that strike the target. It is to this general type ofpractice putting device that the present invention relates.

Devices u ed in the past have suffered from several difficulties. Manysuch devices have included an entry ramp or inclined plane up which theputted ball must travel to reach the target. Thus, balls putted withenough speed to reach an actual golf cup but with insufiicient speed toclimb the ramp are not returned. Some past devices have returned puttedballs hit with so great a speed that they would jump over an actualgolfing cup. In addition. past devices of the type including both atarget and an ejector have been complex in construction and difficult toassemble.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved practice golf ball putting device and to overcome thedisadvantages found in devices used in the past.

it is another object of the invention to simulate closely conditionsencountered on a golf green and to provide an improved practice puttingdevice effective to return any putted ball that would drop into a realgolf cup, and not to return any ball that would miss or jump over thecup.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved practice putting device for use on a fiat surface without aramp or incline for the ball to ascend.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a practice golfball putting device including a target ejector plate acting both as atarget for the putted ball and as an ejector for returning the ball.

Still another Object of the invention is to provide a practice puttingdevice including a damping arrangement for preventing the ejectingmechanism from operating more ti an once during a short interval oftime, thereby to prevent oscillation of the ejecting mechanism.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved housingconstruction for a golf putting practice device for easily andeconomically mounting the ball return mechanism including an electricsolenoid.

Another object is to provide a practice putting device with a novel backrail for catching missed putts and returnin them in the direction fromwhich they were putted.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide novelpractice putting apparatus including a target and ejector device and asimulated putting surface mat having a target hole therein arranged insuch a manner that balls reaching the target hole in the mat, even witha very low velocity, are returned by the ball return mechanism.

In brief, the practice golf ball putting device of the present inventionincludes a compact casing having a target plate suspended at the frontthereof in position to be struck by putted balls and having a widthcorresponding to the hole diameter. A switch operating arm extends fromthe rear of the target ejector plate into the casing, and when a puttedball strikes the large ejector plate, the switch operating arm moves andstrikes a flexible contact arm of an electrical switch in order to closethe switch and complete an electrical circuit to energize a ballreturning ejector mechanism. The ejector mechanism comprises an electricsolenoid with a winding and a movable armature for striking the back ofthe target ejector plate when the switch is closed by impact of a ball.Thus, when the target ejector plate is hit by the armature, it is movedforward, and in turn, strikes the golf ball and returns it forcibly inthe direction from which it was putted.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the switch operating armand the contact carrying arm are arranged so that a time delay occursbetween the impact of a putted ball against the target ejector plate andthe actuation of the ejector mechanism. Furthermore, the characteristicsof the solenoid are such that an additional delay occurs before thearmature hits the target ejector plate. Thus, a ball striking the targetejector plate with a velocity sumcient to jump 21 real golfing cuprebounds out of range of the target ejector plate before the plate isstruck by the armature. In this manner, balls hit too hard are notreturned by the device.

Damping means including a suction cup engageable with the switchoperating arm in the open switch position serve to hold the targetejector plate briefly after ejection of the ball. The damping meansgradually returns the target plate and switch arm to the originalposition, and prevents the plate and arm from moving past the originalposition and again energizing the ejector mechanism. Thus, oscillationof the target plate and ejector mechanism is avoided.

The device may be used upon a floor surface and in this case the targetejector plate is positioned on the floor surface so that a putted balldoes not have to climb a ramp or incline in order to reach the target.Alternatively and in accordance with a further feature of the inven tionthe device may be used with a putting mat designed to gve the same ballaction as an actual putting green and including a target cup opening.When used with the mat, the target and ejector device is placed towardthe rear of the hole, and balls reaching the hole with a low velocityare specded up as they drop into the cup and the added velocity assuresthat any ball reaching the cup will travel across the opening to thetarget device and be returned.

The practice putting device may be used with a novel semi-circular golfball receiving back rail arranged around and behind the target andejector device. The novel semicircular shape serves to catch balls thatmiss the device and to guide them in a semi-circular path to reversetheir direction and return them if they are hit with sufficient speed.

The target and ejector device includes a novel arrangement of internalwalls forming a chamber for receiving the solenoid from the bottom ofthe casing during assembly. Furthermore, these internal walls arearranged in novel fashion to support the winding, to limit the movementof the solenoid armature, and to support an armature biasing springmounted in the armature core.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description of an illustrative embodiment, inthe course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partly broken away, of practice golf ballputting apparatus constructed and placed upon a mat in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken, partly sectional View of the device ofFIG. 1, taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional, top view taken along a line generallycorresponding to the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3, assumingFIG. 3 to illustrate the entire structure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along; the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, sectional view of the casing of the target andejector device of the practice putting apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along aline 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the casing taken along theline 77 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, there isillustrated practice putting apparatus indicated as a whole by thenumeral 10 and constructed and arranged in accordance with the presentinvention. The apparatus 10 includes a ball target and ejector devicegenerally indicated as 12 embodying several features of the presentinvention and which, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, isused in combination with a back rail 14. The device 12 and rail 14 maybe used on any suitable floor surface or, preferably, may be used incombination with a putting mat 16.

The ball target and ejector device 12 includes a compact casing 18 atthe front of which is suspended a target and ejector plate 20 which, inaccordance with an important feature of the present invention, servesboth as a ball target and as part of the means for returning the ball.Within the casing 18 is housed simple apparatus for effecting return ofa putted ball with the target ejector plate 20 including a solenoid 21having a winding 22 and a horizontally movable armature 24 controlled bya switch generally designated as 26.

In order to support the target ejector plate 20 for limited swingingmovement at the front of the casing of the device 12, a top wall of thecasing 18 includes a pair of forwardly extending portions 18a definingopenings for supporting a hinge pin 38. The target ejector plate 26 ispivotally mounted on the hinge pin 3%) by means of a hollow pinreceiving sleeve 26a formed along the top edge of the plate 20. In orderto simulate actual putting conditions, the plate 20 is made the width ofan actual golf cup.

When a putted ball strikes the target ejector plate 20, the impactcauses the plate to swing inwardly toward the body of the device 12, andmovement of the target ejector plate 2% caused by impact of a puttedball closes the switch 26.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, a switch operating arm 32is formed as an integral part of the target ejector plate 26 and extendsrearwardly from the plate 20 into the interior of the casing 18. Theswitch 26 (FIGS. 3-5) includes a fixed contact 26a mounted upon arelatively fixed terminal bracket 34 and a movable contact Zeb mountedupon a flexible switch arm 36, and the arm 36 is mounted so that thecontacts 26a and 2612 are normally spaced from one another. As can bestbe seen in FIG. 5, the flexible switch arm 36 includes an upwardlyextending portion 36a defining an inclined surface 33, while the switchoperating arm 32 includes a rounded arm engaging portion 32a. In thenormal position of the device 12, the flexible arm 36 is tensioned sothat it bears against the portion 32a. This arrangement eliminatesmovement or vibration of the arm 36 which might otherwise result fromjarring or moving the device 12. When a putted ball strikes the targetejector plate 20, the switch operating arm 32 moves upwardly and the armengaging portion 32a moves along the inclined surface 38 with a cam-likeaction, thus closing the switch 26 and energizing the solenoid winding22 and causing the armature 24 to strike the target ejector plate 20 andreturn the putted ball.

When a putted ball strikes the target ejector plate 20, the ballrebounds to some extent because of its own inherent elasticity. If theputted ball strikes the plate 20 with a relatively small velocity, theresulting rebound velocity, if any, will be small, and will not affectoperation of the device. However, if a putted ball strikes the plate 20with a large velocity, such as would cause the putted ball to jump overan actual golfing cup, the rebound velocity of the ball away from theplate 20 will be greater. More specifically, it is believed that theball and plate both move against a back stop on the casing 18, describedhereinafter, and that the ball then bounces away from the device 12. Inaccordance with the present invention, this characteristic is utilizedto prevent the device 12 from returning balls striking the plate 20 witha velocity so great that the ball would jump an actual cup. When a ballstrikes the plate 20, the plate first swings back to a switch closingposition and then, upon actuation of the ejector mechanism and aftermovement of the armature 24 against the plate 20, the plate is pushedforward again to a position slightly ahead of the original position ofthe plate 20. The inclined surface 38, the arm engaging portion 32a ofthe switch operating arm 38, and the distance between the contacts 26aand 26b of the switch 26 are arranged so that a slight time delay existsbetween the time a putted ball strikes the plate 20 and the time theejector mechanism is actuated. An additional delay occurs as thearmature is moved from its original position to the point where itstrikes the plate 20. The total time delay is such that a ball puttedwith too great a velocity will rebound out of the range of the plate 20and will not be returned. Conversely, balls hit with a low enoughvelocity to drop into a cup will be struck by the target ejector plate20 and returned with a much greater velocity than mere rebound velocity.

It can now be seen that when a putted ball strikes the target ejectorplate 20, the plate and the switch operating arm 32 are moved in arearward and upward direction and shortly thereafter the switch 26closes to actuate the ejector mechanism. The armature 24 then strikes animpact boss 20b (FIG. 4) formed on the back of the target ejector plate20 and forces the plate sharply forward. The swinging plate then strikesthe putted ball, provided it remains in the range of movement of theplate, and returns it. After the ball has been returned, the plate mighttend to swing back again and actuate the ejector mechanism a secondtime. Such operation would be highly undesirable and could causeoscillatory backward and forward movement of the plate 20.

In accordance with the present invention, damping means are provided inorder to assure that the ejector mechanism is not actuated more thanonce in succession, and to assure that oscillation of the plate isprevented. The damping assembly includes a flexible suction cup 42mounted to a bracket 44 supported in a fixed position in the casing 18.The switch operating arm 32 includes a horizontal portion 32b inalignment with the suction cup 42, and when the ejector mechanism drivesthe target ejector plate and arm 32 forwardly and downwardly, the flange32b is forced down against the suction cup 42. Thus, the cup 42 actsboth as a stop to limit the forward movement of the plate 20 and as ameans for holding the plate 20 in its forwardmost position. Furthermore,the suction cup 42 and the flange 32b are arranged so that the suctionbetween the cup and the flange is allowed to gradually dissipate. Forexample, the entire target ejector plate 20 and integrally formed switchoperating arm 32 may be molded of a somewhat porous material such asBakelite permitting leakage of air to release the suction cup.

After the ejector mechanism has moved the target ejector plate 20 andthe switch operating arm 32 forwardly and downwardly against the suctioncup 42, the gradually dissipating suction slowly releases the switchoperating arm 32 and allows the plate and arm to return to the initialposition. The gradual release assures that the arm will not overswingupwardly to again close the switch 26 and actuate the ejector mechanisma second time.

Proceeding now to the construction of the casing 18 of the target andejector device 12, in accordance with a feature of the invention thecasing is formed in a novel manner for supporting the solenoid 21. Inorder to support the solenoid assembly 21 within the casing 18, thecasing includes an internal wall arrangement generally designated as 48defining a chamber for the reception of the solenoid 21 and designed innovel fashion to greatly facilitate assembly of the device 12.

The solenoid Winding 22 is supported by a bobbin 46 including a rightcylindrical core wall 45a, a front Wall 4612 and a rear wall 460. Inorder to facilitate insertion and positioning of the winding 22 in thecasing 18, the front and rear Walls 45b and 46c are generally square inshape. The casing 13 includes a pair of interior side walls 18!)extending forwardly from the outer rear wall of the casing andinterconnected at spaced points by an internal front wall 180 and aninternal rear wall 18d. As can best be seen in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, theside walls 155 and the front and rear walls 130 and 18d form generallysquare supports for receiving the square front and rear bobbin walls 46band 460. During assembly the bobbin 46 with the Winding 22 thereon ismerely slid upwardly into the solenoid receivin space provided betweenthese walls, and is thereafter firmly held in position against rotationor dislocation.

In order to prevent the solenoid 21 from moving upwardly out ofposition, the rear wall is provided with an abutment 18@ (FIGS. 4 and 7)against which the top of the rear bobbin wall 460 is positioned.Furthermore, the front wall 130 includes a generally U-shaped recess 50(FIGS. 4 and 6) extending only part way through the front wall from therear. This recess 50 forms a shoulder for receiving a forwardlyextending nose portion 46a of the core wall 46a of the bobbin. Thus, itcan be seen that when supported from the bottom in a manner to bedescribed, the solenoid is held firmly in place by the wall arrangement48.

The armature 2-4 of the solenoid 21 includes a central portion 24::slidable in the core of the bobbin 44 in response to energization of thewinding 22, and extending rearwardly from the central portion 24a is areduced diameter portion 2412. As can best be seen in FIG. 7, the rearwall Ed is provided with a U-shaped recess 52 (FIGS. 4 and 7) largeenough to allow the portion 24b of the armature to extend rearwardlytherethrough, but small. enough to form a stop for the armature when thecentral armature portion 24a engages the rear wall Eds].

The armature 2 5 also includes a reduced diameter driving portion 24cadapted to move forwardly upon encrgization of the winding 22 and strikethe impact bos 2% formed on the rear of target ejector plate 29 toreturn a putted ball. The forward wall 18c includes a Ushaped recess 54somewhat smaller than and arranged symmetrically within the recess 50and extending somewhat further into the wall 18c, but not all the waythrough (FIGS. 4 and 6). This recess 54 forms a supporting ledge holdingone end of an armature biasing compression spring 56. The other end ofthe spring bears against the central portion 24:: of the armature 24 andserves to hold the armature in its most rearward position, asillustrated in the drawings, in position for energization of the winding22.

The front internal wall 18c includes another U-shaped recess 58 smallerthan and arranged symmetrically with respect to the recess 54, andextending all the Way through the front wall 180. The recess 58 is largeenough to allow the driving portion 24c of the armature 24 to extendthrough the front wall and strike the impact boss 2012, but this recessis small enough to form a ledge for supporting the spring 56 and thuslimiting forward movement of the armature.

From the above, it can be seen that due to the provision of the internalwall structure 48 including the U-shaped recesses 59, 52, 54 and 58, themanufacture of the device 12 is greatly facilitated. Thus, the assembledsolenoid 21 including the winding 22, bobbin 4-6, armature 24 and spring56 may be inserted as a unit from the bottom upwardly into the spaceprovided, and the wall arrangeent 48 holds the solenoid in the properposition for operation of the armature.

in order to support the solenoid and hold it in position in the spaceprovided, the device 12 includes a cover plate 6% held in position abovethe bottom of the casing 18 by a number of screws threaded intoscrew-receiving bosses 18] formed on the walls of the casing 18.Properly to position the plate 6% and support the solenoid 21, the plateincludes a flange 60a (FIG. 4) extending upwardly against the noseportion 466! of the bobbin core.

To provide a limited range of movement rearwardly for the target ejectorplate 2d, the outer side Walls of the casing 18 are cut away to forminclined front wall surfaces 18g, and the cover plate 60 is providedwith an upturned lip 69b. The walls 18g and the lip 6611 act as abackstop for the target ejector plate 20 when struck by a putted ball.Furthermore, the bracket 44 supporting the suction cup 42 may besuitably connected to the cover plate 6%.

The spring 56 serves to hold the armature 24 in the rearward position asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 when the switch 26 is open. When the switchis closed, the action of the electric field on the armature 24accelerates the armature in a forward direction until it strikes theplate 2%. As described above, the total time delay provided by thedevice 12 includes the delay built into the switch 26 as well as thetime required for the armature to move against the plate 20 from theinitial position determined by the spring 56 and the wall 18d. Duringthis time delay, as noted above, a ball hitting the tar et with toogreat a speed moves with the target ejector plate 2% to the backstopformed by the lip 66b and wall surfaces 18g, and then rebounds away fromthe device 12. This time delay is set to provide a sensitivedhferentiation between bails putted correctly and balls putted too hardto drop into a golf cup, the latter balls rebounding out of range of theplate 26 during the time delay period.

The casing 18 is provided with a pair of supporting bosses 18k to whichthe terminal bracket 34 and flexible switch arm 35 are mounted.Furthermore, these members are connected to suitable electric conductors62 (FIG. 5) and additional circuitry is provided for connecting theswitch 26 and the solenoid winding 22 in series with a suitable powersource in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The casingmay be provided with a hole 63 in its top wall for mounting a flag atthe center of the target area.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the targetand ejector device 12 may be used with the ball retaining and returningback rail 14. The rail 14 is semi-circular in shape (FIG. 1) and isspaced from the rear of and surrounds the device 12. Thus, a putted ballmissing the device 12 to either side thereof with sufi'icient velocitycontacts the rail 14 and is guided by the rail 14 around the rear of thedevice and is returned toward the putter.

In order to facilitate packaging and shipping of the apparatus 16, therail 14 is divided into portions 14a and 14b. Furthermore, each portionis provided with a mounting bracket 66a and 66b. These brackets aremounted to the casing 18 of the device 12 and are long enough to providesufficient space between the curved rear outer wall of the device 12 andthe rail 14, to the end that a putted ball may pass between the rail andthe device.

In order firmly to mount the rail 14 in spaced position from the device12, the housing 18 includes a mounting boss 68 (FIGS. 4 and 7) defininga slot 7t therein. Each support bracket 66a and 66b is provided with aflange 72 (FIG. 4) receivable in the slot '70 in order to properlyposition the rail portions 14a and 14b. The brackets 66a and 66b may beheld in place against the casing 18 by means of screws 74 threaded intothe boss 68. Further to mount the rail portions 14a and 14b together,the brackets 66a and 661) may include mounting flanges 76 held togetherby a fastener 7 8 (FIG. 4).

As previously noted, the device 12 and rail 14 may be used on anysuitable fioor surface. For the purposes of this description, a floorsurface may be defined as any horizontal surface upon which putting maybe practiced including any sort of floor such as carpeting or a rug aswell as outdoor ground surfaces. However, in accordance with a furtherfeature of the invention, the target and ejector device 12 and rail 14may be used with a putting mat 16 especially prepared of foam rubber orplastic or the like accurately to simulate the surface of an actualputting green. The mat 16 is provided with an opening 80 the size of anactual golf cup. With the device 12 positioned to the rear of theopening as illustrated in FIG. 1, actual putting conditions areencountered. More specifically, any ball putted towards the opening 80which would drop into a cup will be returned by the device 12 while aball which would not enter a cup is not returned. Any ball hit withbarely enough velocity to reach the opening 89 would drop into a realcup. In order to assure that these balls are returned by the device 12,the putting mat 16 is made of a sufficient thickness so that a ball, indropping over the edge of the opening 89, is accelerated just enough toreach the target ejector plate 20 and actuate the return mechanism. Onthe other hand, any balls hit with too great a velocity to drop into areal golf cup rebound out of range of the target ejector plate '20before actuation of the ejector mechanism and therefore are notreturned. The rebound velocity of balls not returned is sufficient tocarry them only a short distance; in most cases only a few inches. Incontrast, balls returned by the device 12 travel several feet back tothe putter.

It should be appreciated that with the apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention it is not necessary for the puttedball to climb a ramp or inclined surface to reach the target and ejectordevice 12. This represents a significant advantage since balls hit hardenough to drop into a real cup will not be returned by a device having aramp if they do not have sufficient velocity to climb the ramp.

While the present invention has been described in connection withdetails of a specific embodiment thereof, it should be understood thatsuch details are not intended to be limitative of the invention exceptinsofar as set forth in the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. Practice golf ball putting apparatus for returning a putted golf ballalong a surface upon which the ball is putted comprising a housing, aball returning target movably supported on said housing for forward andrearward movement relative thereto and having a portion adapted to bedisposed above said surface and in the path of a ball putted toward thehousing, said target being movable in a rearward direction with respectto said housing by the impact of a ball against the target, a solenoidmounted within said housing and including means effective uponenergization to move the target with such force in a forward directionwith respect to said housing that said target may strike a putted golfball and return it to the golfer along the surface upon which it wasputted, and means for energizing said solenoid in response to movementof the target in said rearward direction.

2. Practice golf ball putting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid target is suspended on said housing for swinging movement about ageneraliy horizontal axis, and wherein said target has a width at leastas great as the approximate diameter of a golf hole.

3. Practice golf ball putting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid energizing means includes a switch connected to control theoperation of said solenoid, means operatively associated with saidtarget for operating said switch to a solenoid energizing condition whensaid target is moved in said rearward direction, said solenoid includinga movable armature normally spaced from the target and including awinding surrounding said armature for propelling said armature againstthe target with a sharp impact when the solenoid is energized, therebyto drive the target in said forward direction.

4. Practice golf ball putting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, includingmeans for preventing immediate successive energizations of saidsolenoid, said last mentioned means including holding means operableupon said forward movement of said target for temporarily restrictingrearward movement of said target and for thereafter releasing saidtarget for free rearward movement.

5. Practice golf ball putting apparatus as defined in claim 4 whereinsaid holding means comprises a flexible suction member engageable inslow releasing suction relation between said target and said housing.

6. Practice golf ball putting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 whereinsaid switch, solenoid, and target are constructed and arranged toproduce a time delay period between the time a golf ball strikes saidtarget and the time the ball is returned, said period being ofsufiicient duration so that a ball having a velocity great enough tojump a golf hole will rebound away from the target a distance such thatit is not returned.

7. Practice golf ball putting apparatus as defined in claim 1characterized by a mat having an upper putting surface, an opening inthe mat for receiving a putted golf ball, said supporting means beinglocated on said mat so that the target is spaced rearwardly from thefront edge of the opening, said opening extending downwardly from theupper putting surface of the mat so as to increase the velocity of agolf ball falling into the opening, whereby golf balls entering thefront edge of the opening with an otherwise insufficient velocity attaina velocity sufficient to strike said target.

8. Practice golf ball putting apparatus as claimed in claim 1characterized by a curved back rail including a central portion arrangedbehind said housing and including end portions extending forwardpartially to surround said housing; said rail and said housing beingspaced apart by a distance exceeding the width of a golf ball, whereby aball putted past said housing and against said rail may be guided by therail along a curved path and returned.

9. Practice golf ball putting apparatus comprising supporting means,ball return means movably mounted on the supporting means for movementin a forward direction to strike and return a ball to the golfer alongthe surface over which it was putted and for movement in a rearwarddirection after return of a ball, and means for preventing immediatesuccessive operations of said ball 9 10 return means, said lastmentioned means including hold- 2,873,326 2/1959 Kurtis 335-261 ingmeans operable upon forward movement of said ball 2,908,503 10/1959Austin at 273*179 return m a for p a y holdmg a l return 3,134,5975/1964 Branden 273*179 means in its forward position and restrictlngrearward movement of said ball return means, and for thereafter 53,139,565 6/1964 Levme 335*261 X releasing said ball return means forunrestricted rearward movement, FOREIGN PATENTS 10. Practice golf ballputting apparatus as defined in 938,377 4/ 1948 F n claim 9 wherein saidholding means comprises a flexible suction member engageable in slowreleasing suction re- 10 ANTON O OECHSLE Primary Examiner lation betweensaid target and said supporting means.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner. References Cited G- I. ASSl-S'tantExamlner.

2,582,290 1/1952 Smith 273-179 15

